The Russian Transport Ministry announced the inspection of Russian shipping companies that operate tankers for compliance with the rules for transportation of oil and petroleum products.
The Ministry in a statement said that the Federal Service for Supervision of Transport (Rostransnadzor) is tasked with conducting the checks and will assess the compliance of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs with mandatory requirements for the transport of oil and oil products.
The inspection will affect about 500 sea and inland waterway transport companies operating tankers. The check is due to be finalized by the beginning of the 2025 navigation season.
In addition, the Transport Ministry will make a full review of laws and regulations on transportation of oil and petroleum products by sea and inner water transport.
These inspections follow the aftermath of the oil spill that occurred along the Russian Black Sea coast after two tankers were severely damaged in a storm over the weekend of 14-15 December, 2024. According to the Transport Ministry, four petroleum product tanks were damaged, and about 2,400 tonnes of fuel oil leaked into the sea.
